Linear Economic Model Research Articles

Sustainability, circular economy, and projects: research opportunities

This editorial explores the intersection of sustainability, circular economy, and project management, highlighting its growing relevance in the contemporary context. Sustainability is deeply integrated into management modern practices, incorporating economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The circular economy, as an alternative to the traditional linear economic model, aims to reintegrate products and materials into the production live cycle, minimizing waste and maximizing resource use. Digital technologies such as IoT, AI, and blockchain provide new opportunities for implementing sustainable practices in real time, especially within the context of Industry 4.0. In project management, the incorporation of sustainability principles is crucial for ensuring long-term success. Frameworks such as the P5 Standard and PRiSM offer practical tools for integrating these concepts of sustainability into the daily routines of project professionals, promoting resource efficiency and social responsibility. The active engagement of stakeholders and the development of specific frameworks are essential for advancing project management that generates positive environmental and societal impacts. The editorial also highlights various research opportunities related to the integration of sustainability and the circular economy in project management. Research opportunities include understanding the impact of circular economy principles on project efficiency, stakeholder engagement in sustainable projects, and the development of frameworks aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By addressing these topics, researchers and organizations not only address environmental challenges but also gain a competitive advantage.

Achieving a framework of the circular economy in urban transport infrastructure projects: a meso-scale perspective

Urban infrastructure development is one principal way people are transforming the natural world and their living conditions. It is important for humanity, but it can also cause major impacts to the environment, such as huge amounts of solid waste and CO2 emissions. Considering this, the circular economy (CE) is a promising alternative to the traditional “make, use, and dispose” linear economy model. However, as a strategy for sustainable development (SD), the CE is still in its infancy in the urban transport infrastructure sector. Therefore, this article aims to guide the implementation of CE during transport infrastructure projects. To achieve this goal, a literature review and case study were adopted as the research methods. After reviewing existing well-established CE frameworks, the iReSOLVE (implement, Regenerate, Share, Optimize, Loop, Virtualize, Exchange) framework is recognized as the most comprehensive one. Upon it, an analytical framework containing specific-related aspects of CE in urban transport infrastructure projects (which belongs to meso-scale) is proposed (coined as the 4Wh-iReSOLVE framework). The 4Wh means Who, When, Where, and What. The proposed framework offers insight into potential CE activities for transport infrastructure projects and assists in assessing the performance and impacts of CE of these projects to cover the gap of the neglected meso-scale. Ten circular viaduct project initiatives in the Netherlands are used as case analyses with the 4Wh-iReSOLVE framework. The results present the highlights of the circular viaduct initiatives in the Netherlands, with CE activities categorized into five groups (design-related strategies, general CE strategies, implementation, management, and related digital technologies and materials, as well as environmental sustainability). As verified by several experts of the projects studied, it can be concluded that the 4Wh-iReSOLVE framework is suitable for transport infrastructure project CE analyses and implementations. It can potentially be a suggested guideline in future policy documents.

Remixing our cities – current research on circularity in the construction sector

The European Green Deal is aiming for a transition from the current linear economic model to a much more sustainable and resource-efficient circular model. Since the construction industry is responsible for 37% of Europe-wide waste, it will be a key sector for the successful implementation of this goal. However, we can currently find many sector-specific challenges slowing the pace. On the one hand, the complexity of the sector and the multiplicity of actors involved. On the other hand, the dichotomy between the immanent uncertainty that lies within all reuse strategies and an ever-rising pressure for an increased technical performance respectively liability exclusion of building components. A successful transformation of the construction industry towards a circular economy would hence require changes throughout the whole life cycle of the building stock, an extensive and comprehensive exchange of information and the implementation of strategies for dealing with uncertainties. This includes also the development of new construction standards, which in turn can be expected to have an influence on the resulting architectural design. The focus of this paper is to present two current research projects on these topics, with a focus on the potential implications and future fields of action for designing architects.

Low-carbon development vector in circular economy

Within the framework of the Industry 4.0 concept, transition from a linear economy model to a circular economy model aimed at energy saving, regenerative green production, circulation, and consumption is becoming increasingly relevant. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the low-carbon development model consistency with the goals and objectives of circular economy (hereinafter referred to as CE) for subsequent development of a green growth strategy. Objectives of the study: to use the criteria and methods of CE to develop a toolkit for transition to low-carbon economy and to formulate its development strategy. The study used general scientific methods, in particular, analysis, synthesis, and periodization. In the course of the study the criteria for green economy growth have been identified, and in accordance with them the stages of CE have been established such as conceptual, institutional, and regulatory. The author’s variant of the combined regulatory system based on a combination of administrative and economic measures has been proposed. Matrices of problem situations by individual types of activity have been formed. As the study result, the authors outlined the circular economy stages, substantiated the possibility of low-carbon transformation within the framework of CE, relying on carbon emissions management, low-carbon technologies and a system of financing “green” projects implementation. The tools to stimulate “green” growth have been defined: a tax on greenhouse gas emissions, emissions trading system, subsidizing alternative energy, environmental projects, energy-saving technologies development and their implementation into the production process. The novelty of the study lies in a scheme development for building a low-carbon economic development strategy aimed at achieving the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the level of both the region and industrial enterprises.

A gender perspective on the circular economy: A literature review and research agenda

AbstractThe circular economy (CE) challenges the traditional linear economic model by emphasizing the importance of resource efficiency, recycling, and regeneration in society. However, the role of gender in CE practices remains underexplored. This article presents a systematic literature review on how gender dynamics intersect with CE, highlighting the implications of gendered labor distribution, access to resources, and decision‐making processes. Women, often pivotal in household and community resource management, are underrepresented in policy and research. Gender perspectives are therefore crucial for addressing social, environmental, and justice dimensions within CE. The study employs the lens of care labor to reveal power imbalances and the exclusion of marginalized groups, advocating for inclusive policies to achieve socially sustainable and equitable CE futures. The review identifies the overrepresentation of women in undervalued, informal activities and the dominance of men in highly valued, technologically advanced CE roles. It also underscores the benefits of gender diversity in corporate governance, which enhances sustainability practices. The article calls for a deeper examination of gender's impact on CE, suggesting a research agenda to integrate gender perspectives, enhance CE effectiveness, and promote equity. The findings indicate that addressing gender inequalities in CE is essential to prevent replicating the shortcomings of the linear economy and to foster innovative, inclusive, and sustainable development.

The Role of Circular Economy Principles in Revolutionising Sustainable Manufacturing Practices

The increasing recognition of the limitations inherent in the traditional linear economic model [1] has spurred interest in the Circular Economy (CE) as a transformative framework for sustainable manufacturing practices [2]. This literature review systematically explores the integration of CE principles, focusing on strategies such as reuse, remanufacturing and recycling, which aim to minimise waste and optimise resource utilisation throughout product lifecycles. A thorough examination of eco-design methodologies highlights the importance of product longevity, reparability and material recovery, while advanced technologies—including digitalisation, Internet of Things (IoT) applications and material recovery systems—are identified as critical enablers of circularity in manufacturing processes. We also address consumer-centric design as a vital aspect of CE integration, emphasising the role of user engagement and education in fostering sustainable behaviours and product acceptance. Furthermore, the analysis includes financial mechanisms and investment strategies essential for supporting the transition to circular practices, alongside performance metrics and circularity indicators for assessing effectiveness. The role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in circular manufacturing, along with the challenges and barriers to implementation, is critically evaluated. Finally, the review identifies future prospects and opportunities within the CE landscape, underscoring the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to advance sustainable manufacturing. This comprehensive examination provides valuable insights into the potential of CE principles to revolutionise manufacturing practices and contribute to long-term sustainability goals.

Research on carbon emission reduction based on responsibility of four participants with consideration of circular economy factors in China

Abstract The complex relationship between carbon emissions and economic development has become a global issue. In China, the pressure to reduce carbon emissions is very great because the responsibility of four participants for economic activities has not been able to break away from the linear economic model of ‘produce-consume-discard’. In this paper, four categories of participants, namely extractors/producers, manufacturers, consumers and recyclers, are classified according to the life cycle framework, and the impact of their activities on carbon emission reduction is analysed taking into account circular economy factors. The results of the study show that during the rapid development of China’s economy from 2005 to 2021, there is a significant correlation between carbon emission reduction and the activity behaviour of the four participants with consideration of circular economy factors. In particular, the activity behaviours of the extractors/producers, manufacturers and consumers have a very strong correlation with the carbon emission reduction. Our findings indicate that China should continue to exert efforts in the existing circular economy model to achieve the double carbon goals.

Novel Bioplastic Based on PVA Functionalized with Anthocyanins: Synthesis, Biochemical Properties and Food Applications.

Over the last ten years, researchers' efforts have aimed to replace the classic linear economy model with the circular economy model, favoring green chemical and industrial processes. From this point of view, biologically active molecules, coming from plants, flowers and biomass, are gaining considerable value. In this study, firstly we focus on the development of a green protocol to obtain the purification of anthocyanins from the flower of Callistemon citrinus, based on simulation and on response surface optimization methodology. After that, we utilize them to manufacture and add new properties to bioplastics belonging to class 3, based on modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with increasing amounts from 0.10 to 1.00%. The new polymers are analyzed to monitor morphological changes, optical properties, mechanical properties and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of the new materials show the characteristic bands of the PVA alone and a modification of the band at around 1138 cm-1 and 1083 cm-1, showing an influence of the anthocyanins' addition on the sequence with crystalline and amorphous structures of the starting materials, as also shown by the results of the mechanical tests. These last showed an increase in thickening (from 29.92 μm to approx. 37 μm) and hydrophobicity with the concomitant increase in the added anthocyanins (change in wettability with water from 14° to 31°), decreasing the poor water/moisture resistance of PVA that decreases its strength and limits its application in food packaging, which makes the new materials ideal candidates for biodegradable packaging to extend the shelf-life of food. The functionalization also determines an increase in the opacity, from 2.46 to 3.42 T%/mm, the acquisition of antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals and, in the ferric reducing power assay, the antimicrobial (bactericidal) activity against different Staphylococcus aureus strains at the maximum tested concentration (1.00% of anthocyanins). On the whole, functionalization with anthocyanins results in the acquisition of new properties, making it suitable for food packaging purposes, as highlighted by a food fresh-keeping test.

Hierarchy and cause–effect relationship of barriers to circular business models in food systems: a Fuzzy-DEMATEL analysis in the Berlin-Brandenburg area in Germany

ABSTRACT Food systems face significant environmental challenges, necessitating a shift towards sustainability and resource efficiency. Implementing circular economy principles and adopting new business models can significantly contribute to more sustainable food systems. These approaches address major issues in the linear economic model, such as excessive food loss and waste, resource depletion, and market volatility. However, due to various barriers, adopting new circular food systems confronts sluggish progress. This study identifies the hierarchical structure and cause-and-effect relationships of these barriers using the example of selected food systems in Berlin-Brandenburg, Germany. Employing the Fuzzy-DEMATEL analysis approach, this research identifies four primary causal barriers and four effect barriers classified across market development, finance, technological availability, knowledge management, as well as institutional domains. Furthermore, the study ranks these barriers based on their significance. It reveals that the top barriers are poor product design and waste management infrastructure, insufficient quantity and quality of material flow, and a lack of collaboration in the supply chain. In addition, weak policies, along with their inadequate evaluation and monitoring, act as the most influential causal barriers. These findings hold significant implications for practitioners and policymakers striving to promote the transition to circular food systems through innovative business models. Practitioners are advised to prioritize collaborations with different stakeholders to ensure proper waste management, by-product valorization, and resource efficiency. Concurrently, policymakers should enact supportive policies and effective governance structures based on the needs of the businesses and its stakeholders.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management in Enhancing Circular Economy Performance: Study Case in Indonesia

The concept of circular economy entails the reduction of resource inputs and the reclamation of waste in order to tackle the environmental, economic, and social challenges that sprang from the persistence of the linear economic model. Implementing a circular economy certainly has its own challenges. One of which is to find a sustainable supply chain. Sustainable supply chains are designed and man¬aged by combining practices responsible for the environment and society throughout the life cycle of a product or service. This is possible to achieve through good collaboration between supply chains and having a supply chain design with a sustainable concept. Thus, this research discusses the effect of sustainable supply chain management on circular economy performance mediated by circular economy capability. The objects of this research are 82 courier service companies on Java Island. This research employed quantitative design. The data collection method involved distributing online questionnaires to middle – top managers as respondents. The results show that sustainable supply chain management has a positive effect on environmental performance, then sustainable supply chain management has a positive effect on financial performance. Furthermore, circular economy capability partially mediates the correlation between sustainable supply chain management and environmental performance, and partially mediates the correlation between sustainable supply chain management and financial performance. This research conveys the direction of further research in the same re¬search context.

Green entrepreneurship: Opportunities and challenges for the transition to a circular economy in Togo, West Africa

The traditional linear economic model, characterized by extraction, production, consumption, and waste disposal, has increasingly exposed its limitations, particularly in the depletion of natural resources and the acceleration of global warming, which are critical global issues. These challenges inherent in the linear economy have prompted a shift towards a circular economy. This study analyzes the opportunities and challenges for transitioning to a circular economy through green entrepreneurship among 29 environmentally friendly entrepreneurs in Togo, West Africa. The descriptive analysis of the results revealed that green entrepreneurs are mainly motivated by economic factors, such as job creation and business opportunities, which take precedence over environmental motivations. However, they face significant challenges, including a lack of access to appropriate financing and complex administrative procedures that affect their growth. It is essential to develop themselves, provide specific support by alleviating bureaucratic obstacles to access to finance, and meet economic and environmental goals from green entrepreneurship. In addition, it's important to advocate for pro-environmental behavior among the general public and to support research and development to increase understanding of the advantages of promoting environmentally friendly entrepreneurship for sustainable development while combating climate change. Mainstreaming gender into circular economy policies design and implementation for sustainable development is crucial due to the low representativeness of women in green entrepreneurship. These measures will strengthen Togo's economic resilience while enabling the transition to a circular economy, thus aligning financial objectives with environmental preservation in pursuing green entrepreneurship.

Environmental legislation and achieving circular economy in Italy's waste sector: A shift-and-share macro-area analysis

In the European Union, the transition to a circular economy has been guided by supranational regulations, subsequently transposed by Member States. In Italy, transposition occurred through Legislative Decrees 22/1997 and 152/2006, which set ambitious waste targets. To test their effectiveness in promoting the transition, we implement a Shift-and-Share analysis on data over 1997–2006 and 2007–2019. The three Italian macro-areas (North, Centre and South) shared a virtuous planning phase (specialisation) and a penalising socioeconomic context (competitiveness) in the first period. In the second period, the situation reverted in Northern and Central Italy. Southern Italy remained anchored to the linear economy model.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE UAE'S FASHION INDUSTRY

In the modern corporate world, entrepreneurs adopt the linear economy that involves the basic ‘take-make-dispose’ phenomena, leading to increased amounts of air, land and water pollution. Businesses surrender to customer expectations of fast fashion in order to maintain their customer loyalty as rising competition always poses a threat to their market share. As a result, although firms are aware of the negative consequences of the linear economic model, it is often considered extremely beneficial because of its convenience and low cost.

Determining the carbon footprint reduction of reusing lightweight exterior infill walls: A case study of a school building in the United Kingdom

The global construction sector consumes 40 billion tonnes of raw materials and is responsible for considerable CO2 emissions. With growing awareness of its environmental impact, the construction sector is looking to transition from a linear economy “take-make-waste” scenario towards more circular economy principles. Lightweight exterior infill walls are built between floors of primary structural frames to provide building façades. The design of these components is usually based on the current linear economic model. While lightweight exterior infill walls are becoming increasingly common in building construction in the UK, no studies have investigated the potential environmental benefits of designing them with circularity in mind. This means there's a lack of research on both the carbon footprint of these walls and the potential environmental benefits of reusing them. Thus, this article assesses the significance of the carbon emissions from lightweight exterior infill walls and examines whether there is any carbon reduction when lightweight exterior infill walls are demounted from the building frames and reused. This paper first examines the construction process of lightweight exterior infill walls and explores the opportunity to demount and reuse them. Then, the environmental impacts of the lightweight exterior infill walls are analysed using a lifecycle assessment framework. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses are also conducted. The results demonstrate that (i) the embodied carbon of the lightweight exterior infill walls over their lifecycle represents approximately 22% of the embodied carbon of the entire building, and (ii) the disassembly and reuse of infill walls can reduce a building's embodied carbon over its typical lifetime by about 6% compared to the linear scenario where the walls were not reused.

Harnessing regulation for circular economy advancement: Identifying breakthrough areas in the European Union and Hungary

The prevailing linear economic model, characterized by resource extraction, production, consumption, and disposal, is unsustainable and poses significant environmental and social challenges. The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a transformative paradigm emphasizing resource efficiency, waste minimization, and closed-loop production systems. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the CE concept, its potential benefits and challenges, and the regulatory frameworks enacted by the European Union (EU) and Hungary to facilitate the transition towards a circular economy. In order to facilitate this, the authors also propose specific regulatory steps based on a systematic concept.

Modelling of carbon flows in the value chain of packaging plastics in the context of sustainable carbon management

The low share of plastic recycling means significant losses for the economy as well as for the environment, especially for plastic packaging materials since they are the largest end-use market for plastics and characterized by a typical short first-use cycle. The main polymers used in packaging applications are basic polymers, such as PE, PP, PS and PET, which consist mainly of fossil carbon locked up in polymer form. This study attempts to map carbon flows across the packaging plastics value chain with the goal to optimize carbon fixation in relevant polymers over multiple life cycles and minimize carbon loss to the atmosphere via CO2 emissions. Evaluating these carbon balances in the production, consumption and end-of-life treatment phase of these polymers provides more insight in the carbon losses during their life cycle. Three case studies were considered; (1) a baseline route (BASE), representing the current linear plastics economy model which is benchmarked with two theoretical sustainable scenarios: (2) an electrified (ELEC) and (3) a biobased (BIO) route. Specific parameters and assumptions in these three cases were adapted, such as feedstock type, recycling rate, type of recycling etc. Improved recycling rates and advanced recycling methods were applied in the sustainable cases and had a positive effect on carbon retention in products. Allowing a numerical comparison, a method was developed to quantify this carbon retention via the half lifetime of carbon in materials over multiple life cycles. The half lifetime evolved from 0.3 year in the BASE route to 2.0 and 2.6 years in the BIO and ELEC route, respectively. However, even these sustainable, optimized routes remained insufficient to embed carbon in plastic products for many years without too much carbon loss. It is inevitable that an enhanced (carbon) circularity in these routes comes by a certain energy cost; about 46 GJ more energy was required per extra recycled ton carbon in the ELEC route (compared to BASE). But at the same time this intensified carbon conservation leads to a CO2 emission reduction potential of 80 %. The present work illustrates the potential of chemical recycling, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) techniques for end-of-life treatment of plastic packaging products, but additional process development and process intensification in all facets of the value chain are needed to minimize carbon leakage over multiple lifecycles. Hence, waste management policy could be an important instrument to support further enhancement in plastics circularity.

Exploring the Evolution of Sustainability Paradigms: From Linear to Circular Economy Models

Abstract As a response to the urgent environmental degradation and depletion of resources, this article analyzes the historical evolution from linear to circular economy models as a response for achieving sustainability. Tracing back to sustainable forest use proposed in 17th-century and evolving towards modern circular economy principles, there is a paradigm shift of decoupling economic growth from resource consumption. Moving through the landscape of sustainability, the paper criticizes the linear economy model that originated during industrialization period and was incapable of addressing sustainability. Key milestones, such as sustainable development, closed-loop-systems, and biomimicry, demonstrate the journey to current business models. An extensive literature review proves the interdisciplinary importance of circular economy research, exploring domains such as Sustainability Science, Management, and Bioengineering. The present research combines bibliometric analysis and systematic review on articles published between 2000 and 2023. These methods were chosen to assess the main directions of research for development of circular economy models, and recent trends. Research is centered around dynamics and trajectory of scholarly outputs on the topic, mainly those published in the past five years. A sharp rise in the number of publications regarding circular economy models is found, characterized by three notable inflections in 2017, 2018 and 2021. Two pivotal articles emerge as influential contributions. The interdisciplinary landscape of circular economy research is observed, covering diverse research areas such as Supply Chain and Logistics, Bioengineering, or Social Psychology. The cooccurrence analysis reveals 6 thematic clusters for which we propose a conceptual framework. The clusters are: environmental impact, sustainable development, interdisciplinary connections (niche sciences), circular supply chain, climate change, and IT-centric approaches that have emerged in research in the past five years. Insights from recent trends provide valuable guidance to researchers, professionals, and policymakers by using an interdisciplinary lens in the transition to a circular economy.

Determinants of Progress in Circular Economy: A Comparative Multi-Criteria Analysis of EU Member States and Türkiye with a Special Focus on Production and Consumption Indicators

As the global population continues to grow, it is reasonable to anticipate a rise in production and consumption levels, leading to increased waste generation. With the aim of achieving sustainable development and transitioning towards a circular economy (CE), nowadays, there has been a paradigm shift away from the traditional linear economic model towards prioritizing waste management practices that emphasize the reintegration of valuable resources into the economic system. In this sense, transitioning to a CE requires substantial changes in production and consumption frameworks, prompting the EU to incorporate eight relevant criteria, including material footprint, resource productivity, and waste generation per capita, to assess countries' progress towards CE from the production and consumption perspective. To ascertain the current status of EU member states and Türkiye, this study conducts a comparative multi-criteria analysis. The results indicate that Croatia consistently ranked at the top in both analyses, followed by Latvia and Slovakia. In certain years, countries like Czechia, the Netherlands, and Spain demonstrated notable performances. On the other hand, Türkiye showed a moderate performance from 2008 to 2020, invariably hovering around the 10th position throughout much of the period.

Towards sustainable manufacturing: A comprehensive analysis of circular economy key performance indicators in the manufacturing industry

In the pursuit of sustainable development, the concept of Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as a transformative alternative to the traditional linear economic model characterized by take, make, use, and dispose practices. However, there is a growing recognition of the limitations of the linear economy in addressing contemporary global challenges, leading to a pressing need for a more regenerative approach. This study aims to explore and analyze Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) associated with the circular economy, particularly focusing on the manufacturing industry, to provide a valuable guide for enterprises looking to integrate CE principles effectively and reinforce sustainability. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive examination of KPIs that embrace sustainability's triple bottom lines - environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The systematic selection of relevant KPIs and the utilization of Social Network Analysis (SNA) to identify the most influential CE KPIs within the manufacturing industry add depth to the research. By identifying and upgrading significant KPIs representing various facets of CE development, this study contributes to a more meticulous understanding of how enterprises can measure their progress towards circularity. In each of the triple bottom lines of sustainability, five significant KPIs were recognized and upgraded to the second assessment process, where these 15 KPIs are analyzed using SNA to obtain 5 aggregated KPIs. The comprehensive analysis of the obtained fifteen KPIs culminates in aggregated CE indicators, primarily strategies and initiatives (SI), material efficiency (ME), productivity of remanufacturing (OR), technology investment (ROR), and eco-innovation (EI). The aggregated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) displayed an extreme value of the weighted average index attributed to strategies and initiatives KPI with a value of 0.067. These aggregated KPIs provide a practical framework for manufacturers to assess and optimize their circular economy practices. It's essential to note that all binary values incorporated in the proposed approach are derived from an extensive literature review. These values may vary depending on the specific objectives of individual manufacturing firms or focus groups. As a result, the proposed approach is adaptable to diverse manufacturing industries, allowing customization to suit the unique input criteria of each firm or group. Significantly, the current work emphasizes the influential role of manufacturers in shaping a sustainable future in alignment with development goals.

Toward a just circular economy: conceptualizing environmental labor and gender justice in circularity studies

Over the past decade, the concept of circular economy (CE) has gained political traction as a potential solution to economy-environment tradeoffs. However, critical social scientists have raised concerns that CE may not address the root causes or consequences of environmental degradation, thus remaining ineffective. Concurring with this critique, this article highlights three constituent elements of the linear economy that remain unaddressed in CE frameworks: environmental, labor, and gender inequalities. Building upon scholarship from environmental justice, environmental labor studies, and feminist ecological economics, we elaborate a conceptual framework to interrogate the existing literature. Our analysis shows that current CE models 1) are mainly concerned with return on capital investment and sustained growth of gross domestic product (GDP) rather than with redressing the North/South inequalities embedded in the linear economy model; 2) present a limited perspective on labor, with a primary focus on the number of jobs to be created, rather than their quality, or workers’ leadership; and 3) overlook gender inequalities and the sexual division of labor, thus reproducing the devaluation of care that lays at the roots of socioecological crises. We conclude by suggesting avenues for elaborating a “just circular economy” framework.